Multi-cellular carton



Jan. 6, 1959 J. A. O'REILLY MULTI-CELLULAR CARTON Filed Jan. 25, 1956 3Sheets-Sheet l lNV'NTOR. jbsz H/ OPE/Lu BY /gor V p vrJ flTT E/YEYS Jan."6, 1959 J. A. O'REILLY MULTI-CELLULAR CARTON Filed Jan. 23, 1956 5Sheets-Sheet 2 uvmyrox. fosfprl fl .O/QE/LLY BY Jan. 6, 1959 J. A.O'REILLY 2,867,370

MULTI-CELLULAR CARTON 3 SheetsSheet 3 Filed Jan. 23, 1956 mmvmk'ICZUIBEILLY BY 9 d I JOSEPH ino/em? Y6 2,867,370 MULTI-CELLULAR CARTONJoseph A. OReilly, San Francisco, Calif. Application January 23, 1956,Serial No. 560,724 I 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-28) This invention relates tocartons of the multi-cellular types such as those used for the packagingof eggs, and which are made from cardboard blanks that are cut, scored,folded and glued in such manner as to form cartons that can be flatlycollapsedfor conservation of space and convenience in storage and whichcan'be readily and easily set up, either by mechanical means or by hand,for the reception of eggs in the individual cells thereof.

The present invention is an improvement upon or modification of the eggcarton of my United States patent, No. 2,588,936, issued on March 11,1952.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a carton of theabove stated character, from a single rectangular strip of cardboard,which provides therein all the desirable elements and advantages of thecarton of my above mentioned patent, but is cut, scored and joined insuch manner to provide additional advantages both in its mode ofmanufacture and in its erection.

Further objects of the invention reside in the details of constructionand combination of parts embodied in the carton, and in their functionalrelationship in the erected carton.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention,I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferredforms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view of the cardboard blank from which the present carton isformed, as scored, cut and glue spotted preparatory to being folded andjoined.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the prepared blank as initially folded in theforming of a carton therefrom.

Fig. 3 is a section of thefolded blank taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view showing the second folding operation of the blank informing the carton therefrom.

Fig. 5 is a section of the folded blank taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 4,showing the relationship of folded parts.

Fig. 6 is a view of the blank showing the final folding operation.

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 77 in Fig. 6 and showingpartialerection of the carton to better illustrate the relationship ofits parts.

Fig. 8 is a similar section taken on line 8-8 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the present carton as -formed is cut,scored and folded in such a way as to provide all partitioning and celldefining walls as well as the egg supporting cushions, and it is notrequired, as in the carton of my above mentioned patent, that a separatedivision strip be applied thereto to separate the rows of cells. Thestrip of material, which I refer to as the blank, is designated in Fig.1 in its entirety by United States Patent 0 ice .2 numeral 10. Thevarious parts thereof, as defined by cuts and scoring, will now bedescribed.

The blank 10 is cut andscored in a novel and specific manner and isspotted with glue at specific, places, so that it can be folded fiat andstacked with others until time for its use. To prepare it for use, it isset up" to form the carton as shown in Fig. 7. When set up, the cartoncomprises opposite sidewalls 11 and .12, a flat bottom 13, and acoverforming portion 14that is formed along its outer edge with alocking flap 15, and the cell forming elements later to be described indetail.

Referring now more particularly to the carton forming blank 10 as shownin Fig. 1. It is therein observed that the blank is of elongatedrectangular form and is transversely scored from edge to edge alonguninterrupted lines that are perpendicular to its parallel, oppositeedges and indicated by the dash lines 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20.

his also transversely scored along intermittent lines designated at 21,22 and 23. I

The panel at the left of the line 16 sets off the looking flap 15previously mentioned, and this flap is here shown to be formed at itsedge with a series ofhooks 15x for the cover locking operation laterdescribed. The panel that is set off betweenlines 16 and 17 comprisesthe top or cover portion 14.

The panel set off between the lines 17 and 18 comprises the back wall11. The panel that is set oif between lines 18 and19 comprises thecarton bottom 13. The panel between lines 19 and 21 comprises the frontwall 10 and that part of the blank at the right of line 21 in Fig. l isso cut and scored as to adapt its parts to be folded and joined toprovide the transverse partitions between cells, the longitudinaldivision member and the cushions on which the eggs rest when placedproperly in the carton cells.

To provide for the making of these various cell defining or partitioningelements, that portion of the blank which in Fig. 1 is immediately atthe right of the transverse intermittent line of scoring 21, is slit inthe longitudinal direction of the blank to about half the distance toits right-hand end along paired lines 24 and 25, which are coextensiveand are paired in order to setofi' independent strips of material 26between them, which are attached only at their ends. These stripsterminate at their left hand endsin reference to their showing in Fig.1, even with the intermittent line of scoring 21 and their right handends are defined by lines of scoring 27; these lines of scoring 27 beingin alignment transverse across the blank. All strips 26 are of the samelength and substantially of the'same form.

Each strip of material 26 as defined between paired cuts or slits 24 and25 is transversely scored as at 28 and 29 to set off an eggcushion-forming element of the strip between them; these scored lines 28and 29 each being located a distance from the adjacent end of the stripthat is approximately'equal to one-fourth the length of the strip. Themedial, cushion forming portion of each strip 26 is somewhat enlarged byproper directing of the paired cuts from each other to provide a diamondshaped medial portion, and these medial portions' are centrallylongitudinally divided by irregular, zi'g-z 'ag cuts 30, to provide fora spreading and bending of'the parts at opposite sides of the cuts aspresently explained.

The material of the blank that lies between the coextensive strips 26,and also at the outside of the outside strips 26, is also partiallydetached from the blank.- It is shown best in Fig. 1 that each of thelongitudinal cuts 24 is rounded at its left hand end into an upwardlydirected cut 35 directed along the line of intermittent scoring 21.These cuts terminate short of the panel edge or' next adjacent cut 25.Also,'ileading' from and directed away from each of the cuts 24, atabout mid-way of its opposite ends, is a short transversely directed cut36. These latter cuts terminate even with the corresponding cuts 35,thus coacting therewith to define partially detached tabs or panels 37between them. Also, as shown in Fig. 1, two short cuts 38-38 aredirected downwardly in convergence from each of the cuts 25 and blankedges toward the partially detached tabs 37. These spaced, convergingcuts terminate in alignment with the ends of cuts 35 and 36, and linesof scoring 40 are formed between the ends of adjacent cuts 35' and 38,in alignment thus to provide for bending the tabs 37 along the scoredlines 40 at a right angle to the plane of this blank for a purposepresently apparent.

That portion of the blank which is defined between the transverse linesof scoring and 23 is cut in a direction lengthwise of the blank alongpaired lines 42 and 43 to set off coextensive, partially detached stripsof material 44 between them. These particular strips are equally innumber and are aligned with the strips 2 6 which are set off between thepreviously mentioned paired cuts 24 and 25. The opposite end limits ofeach strip 44 are defined respectively by lines of scoring 45', whichare quite close to the scored line 2!), and the intermittent line ofscoring 23. Each strip 44 also has a line of scoring 47 across itsmedial portion, and these scorings set off at the left hand sidesthereof as seen in Fig. 1 the somewhat diamond shaped cushion formingelements, corresponding to those comprised in the strips 26, whichelements are longitudinally slit by zig-zag cuts x.

That part of the blank which is within the end limits of strips 44 asseen in Fig. 1, also is formed with short cuts and 36 which join withthe longitudinal cuts 42 to set off the tabs 37' corresponding to thetabs 37 previously described. Also, there are converging cuts 38'38' andlines of scoring 40 in the same relationship to thestrips 44 as the cuts38--38 and scores 40 previously described in association with the strips26.

Preparatory to folding the blank, glue spots are applied to opposite endportions of the several strips 26 at the areas designated at 50 and 51.

With the blank so cut, scored and glued, it is folded and collapsed inthe following manner: Starting with the blank in fiat position of Fig.l, the right hand end portion thereof is folded upwardly, and back uponitself, along the line of scoring 22, and in this folding operation theseveral strips 26, as defined between the paired, longitudinal cuts 24and 26, are caused to be folded upon themselves as shown in Fig. 3; inthis folding of the individual strips 26 they fold at the scored lines21, 28, and 27 so that the left hand end of each strip between scores 21and 28 will fold back on line 21 to lie flatly against the wall panel 12and the part between the scoring 27 and 28 will lie flatly against theunder face of the back-turned end portion of the blank. This results inthe left hand end portion of each strip being adhesively affixed flatlyto the wall panel 12 and the right hand end portion being adhesivelyattached flatly to the blank adjacent the transverse score 20. With thefirst folding operation completed, the parts of the blank will then beas seen. in Figs. 2 and 3. For better understanding, the location of thescore lines have been designated in Fig. 3 by reference numeralscorresponding to the score lines. Prior to the second folding operation,the back-turned right hand end portion of the blank is glue spotted asat the marked areas 53 in Fig. 2; this being accomplished in anysuitable manner and by any suitable means.

The second folding operation starts with the folded blank as seen inFigs. 2 and 3. The back-turned right hand end portion thereof, thisbeing the top layer shown in Fig. 3, is then folded back upon itselfalong the transverse line of scoring 20. In this folding operation,those portions of the material which in Fig. 3 are immediately at theright hand side of the cuts 36 will be laid against 4 the glue spots 53and thereby adhesively attached flatly to the underlying portion of theblank. When this folding operation has been completed, the parts are inthe relationship shown in Fig. 5.

Prior to the third folding operation, a glue strip 55 is appliedtransversely across the blank just at the right of the score line 17 inFig. 4. Then the previously folded right hand end portion of the blank,in reference to its showing in Fig. 4, is folded up and to the left onthe score line 19, thus to bring the right hand end portion of the blankflatly against the glue, strip 55 so that the various parts of thefolded blank will then be in the relationship shown in Fig. 6. Blanks,so folded, may be stacked flat and kept in that position until ready foruse.

To erect the carton, starting with the folded blank as it is seen inFig. 6, the flat cover portion 14 is pushed towards the right whilepressure toward the left is applied against the right band edge of thefolded blank. This causes the folded and joined parts to buckle upwardrelative to the flat bottom panel through the position of Figs. 7 and 8to the position of Fig. 9. It will be understood that the wall panels 11and 12 will fold at the score lines 18 and 22 and move into verticalparallel planes and that the reversely folded portion, comprised betweenthe transverse lines of the slits 36 and 36 will swing to verticalposition to provide the central longitudinal partitioning means betweenthe walls 11 and 12.

Also, in this carton erecting operation, the strip portions 26 locatedone side of the partition, and strip portions 44 located at the otherside, willbe drawn to the same horizontal level of the top edge of wall12 as shown in Fig. 9, while those parts which, in the flat blank arelocated between the several strips 26 and those which are similarlylocated between the strips 44, will be buckled downwardly to provide theegg cushioning supports. The parts then will assume the positions shownin Fig. 9.

In filling the carton with eggs, it is most desirable to start at thatend of the carton where the first two partially detached tabs 37 and 37point toward each other; that being the end of the left in Fig. 9. Thus,when an egg is placed in the position of the dotted line showing of anegg in Fig. 9, and then pushed downwardly, it causes both tabs to folddownwardly, each bending at the lines of scoring 40, thus to provide theopposite end members of the egg receiving cell. Then, as the eggs aresuccessively applied in like manner to the cells of each row, the tabs37-37' will be successively swung downwardly to vertical positions. Whenthe eggs are thus applied to their cells, each is caused to engage atits lower end with the longitudinally slit diamond shaped portion of thecorresponding cushioning strip and in so doing, the point of the eggwill push the parts at opposite sides of the slit apart and tend toenter between them, as has been illustrated in Fig. 10. Thus, the eggswill be individually confined in the cells of the carton, and eachcushioned against shock, jar or rough handling.

When the cover portion 14 is folded over the carton and locked in theusual way by means of the flap that is 15, each egg is supported free ofall outer walls of the carton as seen in Fig. 11.

It will be understood that the present carton differs from the carton ofmy prior patent in the specific manner of cutting, scoring and foldingthe blank to provide not only the transverse partitions between cells,but also to provide the longitudinal partition member.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A rectangular multi-cellular carton blank having opposite end edgesand opposite side edges connecting corresponding ends of said end edges,a plurality of score lines defining therebetween a top wall, a backwall, a bottom wall and a front wall, one of said score lines defin ingan edge of the front wall being spaced from one end edge of the blankand defining a panel portion therebetween, said panel portion having afirst plurality of substantially longitudinally extending andco-extensive cuts formed therethrough defining a first plurality ofindependent strips of material therebetween which are attached only attheir ends, said panel portion also having a second plurality ofsubstantially longitudinally extending and co-extensive cuts formedtherethrough spaced longitudinally from said first plurality of cuts anddefining a second plurality of independent strips of 'materiaitherebetween which are attached only their ends, alter-- nate strips ofeach of said first plurality and second plurality of strips havingfirst, second and third score lines formed therein extendingtransversely to said side edges of the blank, said first score linesbeing disposed at one end of the alternate strips, said second scorelines being disposed at the opposite ends of the alternate strips, saidthird score lines being disposed at an intermediate portion of saidalternate strips between said first and second score lines, thealternate strips of said first plurality of strips having fourth scorelines formed therein extending transversely to the side edges of theblank, each of said fourth score lines being disposed between the firstand third score lines of the associated alternate strip, each of thestrips between said alternate strips of said first and second pluralityof strips having cuts formed therethrough extending transversely to saidside edges of the blank and having score lines formed thereinintersecting said last mentioned cuts and extending substantiallyparallel to the side edges of the blank, each of said last mentionedstrips having fifth and sixth score lines formed therein extendingtransversely to said side edges of the blank, the last mentioned stripsof said first plurality of strips also having seventh score lines formedtherein between said sixth score lines and one end of the associatedstrips and extending transversely to said side edges of the blank, saidpanel portion having a score line extending transversely to said sideedges of the blank and disposed between and spaced from said first andsecond plurality of strips. 7

2. A multi-cellular carton blank as defined in claim 1, whereinalternate ones of said first and second plurality of longitudinallyextending cuts are rounded at one end thereof and extend transversely tosaid side edges of the blank and terminate short of the next adjacentlongitudinal cut. I

3. A multi-cellular carton blank as defined in claim 2, including shorttransversely extending cuts, intersecting each of said alternate ones ofthe longitudinally extending cuts to define with said last mentionedtransversely extending portion of alternate ones of the longitudinallyextending cuts partially detached tabs therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,588,936 OReilly Mar. 11, 1952 FOREIGN EATENTS 59,184 Norway Dec. 17,1936

